Occupation · 2026 assessment

Oil refining Laboratory Technician

The Oil refining Laboratory Technician role combines repeatable operations with decisions that require professional context. The index measures task exposure to AI, software automation and robotics—not the probability that the occupation disappears.

Moderate risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

44%2026
48%2028
53%2030
60%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
Diagnostics using fault codes and telemetry48%
Planning scheduled maintenance52%
Physical repair of a non-standard fault37%
Collecting telemetry and preparing shift reports55%
Forecasting load and consumption49%
Automated equipment-condition monitoring48%
Routine switching under normal conditions55%
Field repair and fault localization38%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1Diagnostics using fault codes and telemetryAI 48% · human 57%
  2. 2Planning scheduled maintenanceAI 52% · human 63%
  3. 3Physical repair of a non-standard faultAI 37% · human 57%
  4. 4Collecting telemetry and preparing shift reportsAI 55% · human 55%
  5. 5Forecasting load and consumptionAI 49% · human 65%
  6. 6Automated equipment-condition monitoringAI 48% · human 54%
  7. 7Routine switching under normal conditionsAI 55% · human 55%
  8. 8Field repair and fault localizationAI 38% · human 64%

Why technology can change this work

  • predictive diagnostics identify likely failure points in advance
  • smart grids automatically balance generation and demand
  • AI forecasts load and output
  • robots and drones inspect hazardous assets

What protects the occupation

  • physical diagnosis, repair and post-intervention equipment validation
  • critical-infrastructure accountability
  • physical work and emergency restoration
  • system decisions under grid instability

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$7 350per month
2035$9 950scenario estimate
2026: $7 35020262027: $7 60020272028: $7 85020282029: $8 15020292030: $8 40020302031: $8 70020312032: $9 00020322033: $9 30020332034: $9 60020342035: $9 9502035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Carbon Accounting Automation Specialist

Skill fit 87% · risk 22%

Search jobs ↗

Skills you already have

  • fault finding
  • maintenance
  • safe equipment work
  • energy-system understanding
  • technical diagnostics
  • safety-procedure compliance

Skills to build

  • predictive maintenance
  • telemetry-based diagnostics
  • smart grids
  • energy storage
  • load forecasting
  • robotic inspection
CurrentOil refining Laboratory Technician · 44%
→
Keepfault finding · maintenance · safe equipment work
→
Addpredictive maintenance · telemetry-based diagnostics · smart grids

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-25 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.